Portugal: Porto
Port — City, giving name country. In Roman times, he was called Portus Cale, from where it went to the name Portugal — Portugal.
Port — Just an exemplary city of old Europe. Powethe streets, diverse houses, narrow alleys, vintage churches. The historic center is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. But moving around the port on the car is extremely inconvenient — Permanent traffic jams and catastrophic lack of parking spaces, despite the parking paid. And although the hilly landscape of the city of an unprepared traveler may seem difficult to walk on foot.
See the city easier to go up Torre-Shower-Clereigush Tower. 75-meter Torre-Shower Clereigush — Symbol of port and highest church tower in Portugal. It is perfectly visible not only from anywhere in the city, but even from the sea. Previously, she served as a guide for ships setting in the harbor. Overcoming 225 steps of the stairs, you will find yourself on the observation site, from where the entire port is visible as on the palm. Tiled roofs of houses, harsh Cathedral of the XIII century, Embankment of the Douro River, Casting Streets.
Embankment Ribeira — This is the oldest area of the port, oversaturated with restaurants and tourist shops. At the same time, there are many sloppy and even abandoned houses — Glitter and poverty are adjacent to the port everywhere.
Many houses in the port are decorated with auzzy — Blue-white tile. This tradition came here from Spain in the Moorish period. The warm climate allows the use of ceramics not only in the interiors, but to separate entire buildings outside. For example, the famous Capella Das-Almas, also known as Catherine’s chapel, in 1929 was decorated with Azuleja depicting the lives of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Catherine; To do this, it took 16,000 tiles.
Trams ports as if not changed since 1872. This is a real time machine! The interior is decorated with wood and brass. And to warn the campaign on the stop, you need to pull for a special lace.
A business card port are bridges. Railway Ponte de Dona Maria Pia, built in 1876–1877 on the project of Gustava Eiffel, was one of the first projects of the famous French engineer. Constructive solutions created in the construction of this bridge, it will later apply in the famous Tower. Now the Eiffel Bridge is not used: modern trains are too fast and heavy for him, so a modern railway bridge San Juan was built nearby nearby.
Ponte de don-Luis («Don Luis Bridge») was built by a student and a companion of Eifel Teofil Seyrigom in 1881–1886. It is two-level: cut cars from below from above — Trains and trams. Pedestrians can pass through the bridge both from above and below.
In the port there is another legendary landmark — port wine. This drink in Russia was very discredited, because under this name was sold by the terrible quality of the borde, which does not have anything in common with the port. This port wine is born in the Valley of the Douro River, as evidenced by a special brand on the bottle. 165 grape varieties are grown here, and only 29 of them are recommended for the production of port. Although the port and gave this guilt name, but the cellar in which the barrels with the legendary drink are stored on the other bank of the river, in Vila Nova di Gaya.
Previously, young Portwine was transported to Vila Nova-Di-Guy by boats, so as not to disturb the wine shaking in the carts. Now, of course, carry on trucks. But on the joy of tourists boats with barrels are still moored along the shores of the Dora, decorating the embankment. Every year a regatta is carried out in which port producers are involved, and the boats with square sails rushing along the river, as in the old days.
Port — These are bridges, embankments, the breath of the close ocean, the vintage houses, adherent to each other, boats with barrels moored at the bridge. The charm of this city can be seen at the aeropanoras.
